FAQ

It might be hard to put a % to this question, but it’s fair to say most Arizona farmers are food and fiber producers. I would even say an alfalfa farmer is a food producer as he’s producing food for beef cows and dairy cows. To get a real sense of everything Arizona agriculture produces, here is the link to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture with the Arizona numbers, our most recent Census (it’s done every 5 years).

Our two largest commodities are beef and dairy. Both are obviously food commodities produced by food producers.
To understand just the fiber numbers, see the statistics below from the USDA’s Census of Agriculture:

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture …

1. 1. 16,710 farms total*
  2. 3,519 farms produced wool (many of these are from the tribes)
  3. 736 sold mohair
  4. 200 farms produced cotton

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

* This means we have 4,455 fiber producers/farms in Arizona, 26.66% of farms are fiber-producing farms. Of note, that most likely represents only one aspect of their farming. For example, most cotton farmers also grow alfalfa, wheat and other small grains. Ultimately, those 16,710 Arizona farms are 100% food and fiber. Some may not grow any fiber, but they are certainly growing food for something or someone.

Like any family-owned business, some are very successful, and some are at a midpoint in their success. Farmers can have a very tight profit margin once all the costs of equipment, seeds, fertilizer, and more are calculated into the cost of doing business. Additionally, some years farmers and ranchers might have a great crop and some years they might have a natural disaster, a disease, or pest that comes and destroys their entire crop. Assuming that all farmers are rich is a very common misconception.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

Farmers typically sell their food to grocery stores by either selling directly to the store’s produce buyer, or more commonly, through a distributor or wholesale market, where they can sell larger quantities of produce to a middleman who then delivers it to the grocery store; this allows farmers to reach a wider customer base and manage logistics more efficiently.

Additional points about how farmers sell to grocery stores:

Direct Sales: Some farmers, particularly those with smaller operations or selling locally-grown produce, may sell directly to a grocery store’s produce buyer by contacting them, providing samples, and negotiating prices and delivery schedules. Another form of a direct sale is farmers setting up their produce or other ag product at a farmer’s market, otherwise known as selling directly to the public.
Distributors: Most large grocery chains prefer to buy from distributors who handle large volumes of produce, managing the transportation and logistics from multiple farms to the store.
Wholesale Markets: Farmers can also sell their produce at wholesale markets where buyers from grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses come to purchase bulk quantities.
Cooperatives: Some farmers may join a cooperative to pool their produce and sell larger volumes to distributors or directly to grocery stores, providing more bargaining power. An example of this in Arizona is the United Dairymen of Arizona, a cooperative for dairy farmers in the state.

Important factors for farmers selling to grocery stores:

Quality and Consistency: Maintaining high quality produce with consistent size and appearance is crucial to secure sales.
Packaging and Labeling: Proper packaging and labeling with relevant information like price look-up codes (PLU) is required by most grocery stores.
Food Safety Standards: Adhering to food safety regulations and practices is essential to meet grocery store requirements.
Seasonal Availability: Understanding the seasonal demand for different produce and aligning harvest schedules accordingly.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

All crops require water. Water is very precious and important to Arizona and farmers and ranchers here. Arizona farmers and ranchers are some of the most efficient users of water in the world. Because every drop counts, farmers and ranchers have come up with technology to be very efficient with water use. Farmers and ranchers are working every day to be as efficient as possible with water.

Finally, we don’t farm in Arizona despite the desert climate, we farm in Arizona because of the desert climate. The mild seasons mean we are not battling weather like the Midwest and other parts of the country do. We are planting and harvesting 12 month out of the year because of our 300-plus days of sunshine. If you eliminate agriculture from Arizona you would eliminate all our winter-based vegetable production.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

Arizona and American farmers often have low profit margins due to a combination of factors including volatile commodity prices (most major agriculture commodity prices are set by the market, so it forces farmers to be price takers, not price makers), high input costs like fuel, fertilizer, and labor, weather-dependent yields, market fluctuations, and limited control over selling prices, which can lead to significant swings in income depending on the season and market conditions; essentially, farmers’ revenue is often highly susceptible to external factors out of their control while their expenses remain relatively stable. And Arizona and American farmers are good at what they do. So, if they overproduce a commodity on the market, something that often happens, the price will go down if it’s a basic commodity on the overall market.

To understand the risks in growing volatile agriculture commodity crops, just look at cotton. On 11/2/2024 (price can change several times in a day) cotton on the market was .69 cents a pound; but right now, in Arizona it costs about .85 cents a pound to grow. Despite growing at a loos, one farmer explains the main reasons cotton farmers still grow it is for the seed. Selling seed to the seed companies becomes a second revenue stream, after the fiber.

Key reasons for low farmer profit margins:

Price Volatility: Commodity prices can fluctuate dramatically based on global market trends, weather events, and supply and demand dynamics, leaving farmers vulnerable to sudden drops in income when prices fall.
High Input Costs: Costs associated with seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, machinery, fuel, and labor can be substantial and often rise faster than the price farmers receive for their products.
Weather Dependence: Adverse weather conditions like droughts, floods, or extreme temperatures can severely impact crop yields, significantly reducing potential revenue.
Market Power: Farmers often have little control over the market price they receive for their products, as they are often price-takers in a large market dominated by buyers and processors.
Debt Management: Many farmers rely on loans to finance their operations, which can lead to high interest payments and further strain profit margins.
Labor Challenges: Finding and retaining reliable agricultural labor can be difficult, leading to increased labor costs.

Some ways farmers can try to improve their profit margins:

Diversification: Growing a variety of crops or raising different livestock breeds can help mitigate risk associated with price fluctuations in a single commodity.
Precision Agriculture: Utilizing technology like GPS and data analytics to optimize resource usage and improve crop yields.
Value-Added Products: Processing and selling directly to consumers through farmers markets or community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs can increase profit margins by commanding higher prices. An Arizona farmer might be a wine-grape grower, but he can add value to the commodity product by becoming a winemaker.
Risk Management Strategies: Utilizing crop insurance and hedging contracts to protect against price fluctuations.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

We like to say that we can grow just about anything, except for soybeans (our climate temperatures in summer get too hot for the bean pods), kiwi and other tropical fruits. But that means we’re growing, a variety of forage crops like alfalfa, cotton, an extensive list of fruits and vegetables and more! To discover everything Arizona agriculture produces, here is the link to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture with the Arizona numbers, our most recent Census (it’s done every 5 years). The information highlights nearly everything Arizona can grow and raise.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team and callers to the Arizona Farm Bureau office.

A better way to ask the question is, “How do U.S. farmers hedge against uncertainty?” The U.S. government through the congressional action of our representatives with the use of the Farm Bill provide a variety of programs, including:

1. Direct Payments

Historically, the government provided direct payments to farmers based on historical yields, regardless of that year’s crop production. This approach shifted with the 2014 Farm Bill, which introduced more targeted programs to address specific risks, such as:

Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC): Provides financial support when crop revenue falls below a set benchmark based on historical revenue. This program is particularly beneficial during years of poor yields or low prices.
Price Loss Coverage (PLC): Offers payments when market prices for certain commodities (e.g., corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice) drop below established reference prices. Farmers choose between ARC and PLC based on their needs and risk tolerance.

2. Crop Insurance

Crop insurance, subsidized by the federal government, plays a critical role in helping farmers manage risks from weather, natural disasters, and price fluctuations. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) subsidizes premiums, making coverage more affordable and accessible. This program is vital for maintaining farm income stability, especially in unpredictable farming environments.

3. Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs)

Marketing Assistance Loans provide short-term financial support, allowing farmers to use their harvested crops as collateral. Key features include:

Marketing Loan Gains (MLG): Farmers can repay loans at a rate lower than the loan principal if market prices are low.
Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP): Direct payments available to eligible farmers who forgo loans but qualify under the same criteria.

These programs help farmers manage cash flow during periods of low market prices.

4. Conservation Programs

Programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) incentivize farmers to adopt environmentally friendly practices. For example, CRP pays farmers to remove sensitive lands from agricultural production to improve soil, water, and wildlife health. Other initiatives provide cost-sharing for implementing sustainable farming methods.

5. Disaster Assistance

The government supports farmers facing losses from natural disasters through programs such as:

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP): Offers recovery assistance to affected producers. These programs ensure that farmers can recover quickly after catastrophic events.

6. Price Support for Certain Commodities

For specific commodities like sugar and dairy, the government may set minimum prices or purchase surplus to stabilize supply and demand, thereby safeguarding both producers and consumers.

7. Nutrition Programs as Indirect Support

Programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) indirectly benefit farmers by increasing demand for agricultural products. By bolstering food purchases, these programs create stable markets for U.S.-grown crops.

These programs are part of the Farm Bill, which is reauthorized every five years. The most recent reauthorization was the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. For individuals who took the time to understand the programs, farm subsidies are essential to the U.S. economy, especially since our food supply is a national security issue.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

Around 97% of milk sold in the grocery stores in Arizona is produced by Arizona dairies. You can tell if milk is produced in Arizona by looking for a code that starts with “04” on the packaging. You can also use the “Where is My Milk From” tool to find the origin of your milk. Every state in America is assigned its own local code, with Arizona’s being “04.” So, regardless of where you are in the United States you can determine the source of your milk.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

If just talking Arizona specific and all the farms I visit, I would say no. Most of the large family farms are monocropping, but they rotate their crops to maintain quality soil, as they always have done. The term “industrial farming” is a misnomer in my book. Our family farm was large, 1,600 acres, and we grew mainly cotton, wheat and alfalfa. We rotated our crops, but when a field of cotton was planted, it was just cotton in the specific field for that cotton season, that ran from April to November harvest time. And it was a family-owned farm. Mom and Dad owned it. So, it’s difficult for me to classify their farm as an “industrial farm.” In Arizona and across the country, we also have small and medium-sized organic farms that may grow a diverse range of crops, certainly more than my parents grew. But often they grow for “direct markets” where there is more demand for a variety of crops, for example an array of winter vegetables during the winter season easily sold at a local farmers’ market. In Arizona, we also have large organic farms that grow wonderful fruits and vegetables sold wholesale and shipped around the country. Also, according to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, 95% of Arizona farms and ranches are family owned and operated. Some are large, but still family owned. They increase in size, or scale the size of the farm, to spread out the cost of farming. (Answered specifically by Julie Murphree, former cotton farmer with her family in Maricopa, Arizona.)

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

The science actually says glyphosate is safe and synthetic chemicals used properly are also safe. A few things before I get into the science of synthetic chemicals and glyphosate. First, the agriculture industry is very judicious and careful in applying any new technologies and these products must be tested before they even become available to the agriculture community. Second, the cost alone of some of these technologies means farmers and ranchers are not and will not abuse the practice and certainly when applying chemicals. Again, the high cost of these products disincentivizes someone from abusing their use. Everyone using synthetic chemicals and glyphosate must be a licensed user of these products. They must regularly go through training on the safe application of these products and apply according to the label instructions. Third, the use of synthetic chemicals is not as intense and widespread as you might think. Conventional farmers often use the same pesticide applications organic farmers are sanctioned to use. Fourth, don’t assume that organic pesticides are safer than synthetic pesticides. Some organic pesticides are more intense and deadly than synthetic pesticides and nearly all scientists will tell you that. A biologist once told me, “Remember Julie, snake venom is natural, you could even consider it organic as it’s part of nature, but certain snake venoms can kill you or seriously hurt you.” Fifth: If we don’t use appropriate pesticides, including synthetic ones, crop losses will be unsustainable. On average, 35% of potential crop yield is lost to pre-harvest pests worldwide. Pesticides (that include mechanical means of elimination) continue to be the most efficient and effective way to control pest damage, thereby preventing food waste. We need pesticides to help ensure an adequate global food supply. And it’s why organics also uses pesticides. Sixth: Everything is a chemical makeup. Organic fertilizers and pesticides are chemical compositions of something. You and I broke down to our core elements are a chemical composition. (This question specifically answered by former cotton farmer Julie Murphree.)

Here is an article all about pesticide use in agriculture that might help you understand how careful we are in the use of pesticides including that mechanical pesticide application is as important as chemical pesticides:
https://www.azfb.org/Article/How-We-Use-Pesticides-in-Agriculture
This article on glyphosate is from a microbiologist and immunologist with an expertise in the area: Glyphosate still doesn’t cause cancer in humans.
Organics uses Pesticides. Here is the entire approved list: OMRI-pl-update-web-company.indd
Regenerative Farming has been touted as the best way and only way to farm, but what does that mean: What does it mean for a company to source from a ‘regenerative’ farm?

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

Male chicks are culled as they cannot produce eggs.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

Everything has gone up. Transportation costs and production costs, plus Avian Flu has had an impact as well. Once a chicken is taken out of production, it can take up to a year for a new chicken to be old enough and producing at the rate of the previous chicken.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

A chicken lays about 1 egg a day. On average, chickens lay eggs every 24 to 28 hours. If chickens are stressed, molting, sick, too hot or cold this might reduce production.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

Chicken nuggets are made with USDA-inspected boneless white-meat chicken—cut from the chicken breast, tenderloins and rib meat.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

Most livestock producers will vaccinate their animals as part of their animal welfare program. Vaccinating helps producers assure that their animals will not suffer from preventable diseases. On the ranch, cattle graze the open range. Producers want to give them the best opportunity to be successful not only in survival but in thriving in the environment and avoid undue suffering. Animal welfare programs provide them with the best opportunity in this venture.

Source: Question from a customer to one of our local Arizona retail farms.

100% of the Arizona and American farms are growing more than one crop. Using my own farm example, this included a minimum of 3 different types of crops. Often, mom and dad grew up to 5 and 8 different crops in a given year: Cotton, alfalfa, wheat, barley, potatoes, pistachio trees (grown year around), milo and other small grains. Even the large farms will on average grow a minimum of 3 to 4 crops. (This question answered specifically by former cotton farmer Julie Murphree.)

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

es, Arizona is a leading cotton producer in the United States. Arizona is one of the top cotton-producing states along with California, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The state that typically plants the most acres is Texas, but Arizona and California can produce the most cotton per acre because of our use of managed, targeted irrigation. Arizona and California have some of the whitest and cleanest cotton around because of our low rainfall. Rain can stain the cotton fiber once the plant’s cotton bolls have opened. As it relates to the world, I believe China is the largest cotton producer in terms of acres grown, but the quality of their cotton is poor.

Here are some facts about cotton production in Arizona:

Quality: Arizona cotton is some of the highest quality and whitest cotton in the country. This is due to the state’s climate and efficient irrigation, which helps protect the cotton from wind and rain damage.
History: The Hohokam, a prehistoric indigenous people group, were the first to grow cotton in Arizona.
Production: Arizona growers produce 300,000 to 400,000 bales of cotton each year, with each bale weighing 480 pounds.
Economic impact: Cotton production contributes around $200 to $500 million to Arizona’s economy each year. This range occurs since acres planted fluctuate.
Other uses: Cotton is used in many products, including clothing, fertilizer, fuel, packing, paper, cardboard, and some plastics.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

Our Arizona cotton is ginned in Arizona, the process that separates the lint from the seed. However, the textile manufacturing process has all gone offshore, outside of the United States. That’s why you see a lot of your clothing labels saying “Made in China, Vietnam or India.” We would love to see some of that manufacturing come back to the United States, even if we paid a little more for our textiles.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

Tariffs are not actually placed on farmers, though they can be placed on our agricultural commodities. And, farmers don’t generally like tariffs, especially if their products are exported. For example, if China places a retaliatory tariff on U.S.-grown pecans, then this will hurt U.S. pecan growers. For a reminder on tariffs: Tariffs are duties imposed by a government on imported goods. They have several economic effects, including:

Higher prices: Tariffs raise the price of imported goods, which can harm consumers and businesses that buy those goods.
Reduced imports: Tariffs also reduce the volume of imported goods.
Protection for domestic industry: Tariffs protect domestic industries from competition. (But if my ag product is an international product, I’ll not like the tariff.)
Reduced trade: Tariffs can reduce mutually beneficial trade, which can harm the economy.
Higher unemployment: Tariffs can lead to higher unemployment.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

It depends in what context the word is used. If someone is asking about organic farming, we explain that it’s simply a method of farming. While USDA Certified Organic farming is a certified method overseen by the USDA, under the certification it must adhere to specific requirements. However, the method of farming has not been proven to be any healthier than any other method of farming, all of which are regulated under USDA, FDA and EPA rules.

What we celebrate about organic farming is the wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown under this wonderful method of farming. Sometimes, you find a unique variety of arugula, for example, that can only be found from an organic farmer’s field.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

We have had a robust direct market (also known as a retail market) for the last 20 to 30 years in Arizona. Go to www.fillyourplate.org and check out our direct market farmers’ searchable database and you’ll see the variety of farmers and ranchers that sell directly. And farmers of all types have considered it, including jumping in with both feet. Beginning farmers, traditional farmers, young and old farmers have penciled it out. If it makes sense, they’ll expand into direct market farming. But the economics must be there, and they must have the “ideal” location for it to work. If not, they won’t do it.

Farmers and ranchers are some of the smartest business professionals around. They look at everything to add to their revenue streams. Here’s a favorite example to share: Mortimer Farms was traditionally just a beef ranch, known as Ash Creek Ranch. But when they saw that the formerly “Young’s Farm” land came up for lease about 14 years ago, they grabbed at the opportunity, since the farm is right off AZ 69 on your way to Prescott. Since then, they have recently been able to purchase the land. They have turned the farm into an “agri-tainment” center and a u-pick and a country store. But what makes their business opportunity so ideal is location, location, location, as they say in marketing. Not every farm has that opportunity. Land prices, cost to farm, poor location, labor and available water are all the challenges that keep more from getting into direct market farming. However, Arizona does have a great mix of direct market farms. You’ve met several of them on my weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday. As of the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture (2022), Arizona has 751 direct-market, or retail, farms.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

No. There are a variety of sanctioned pesticides organic farmers can use. The distinction is they are not synthetic. But like synthetic pesticides, sanctioned organic pesticides have a chemical composition.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

There are multiple reasons why farmland in Arizona may be idle, including:

Water scarcity: As water becomes unavailable, irrigation becomes more expensive and unprofitable for farms.
Land conversion: Residential and business development is expanding rapidly in Arizona, causing farmland to be lost.
Fallowing: Leaving land idle for a period of time, can be a sustainable land management practice that benefits soil quality and crop production. In the Desert Southwest, fallowing is often used to transfer water. Fallowing can again simply occur because of lack of water. Also, if you convert your farm to USDA Certified Organic, you must fallow your land for three years to meet the USDA Certified Organic requirements.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

Some of this is answered in the question above, I believe. Unfortunately, economic, weather, water and other conditions out of our control can constrain a farmer’s ability to farm. The good news is that we are now able to produce more on fewer acres because of technological advances. You obviously recognize the importance of farming, but farmers need to be allowed to use the technology that will allow them to produce more even if they cannot add acres to the mix. This also includes judiciously using pesticides to reduce the risk of crop loss.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

Yes. Primal cuts of beef that are put through a meat grinder, and on that level, all ground beef is the same. Grinding beef is a wonderful way to tenderize more tough cuts of meat but also to utilize all the trimmings of beef left after the steaks, roasts and loins are cut.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

Yes, all living things have hormones. Progesterone, estrogen and testosterone are vital for living things to function.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

There is no Arizona estate or inheritance tax. When someone passes away, the state does not collect a portion of their money or property. Since there’s no Arizona death tax, you only need to consider federal estate tax rules. On the federal level, also known as the “death tax,” the federal estate tax is levied on a dead person’s inherited assets. The estate tax ranges from rates of 18% to 40% and generally only applies to assets over $13.61 million in 2024. This amount rises to $13.99 million in 2025.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. Explains the Genetic Literacy Project, “Scientifically speaking, there is no such thing as a “genetically modified organism” or GMO; genetic modification is a process rather than a final product. GMO has become widely embraced as shorthand to refer to a plant or animal with new traits that have been created through modern genetic manipulation, often through transgenesis, in which genetic material from unrelated species are combined or synthetic or heavily modified DNA has been inserted into an organism’s genetic code. But developing an all-encompassing, scientifically accurate definition for this highly politicized term is difficult.

“For centuries, farmers have used breeding to modify the genetics of plants, searching for ways to improve traits that include yield, disease resistance and flavor. Some of those breeding techniques, including wide cross breeding and mutagenizing seeds using radiation or chemicals, involved years of laboratory tinkering, but are not considered GMOs as it is commonly used. Advancements in biotechnology over recent decades have given breeders the ability to exert greater and more precise control over the breeding process. Today, the seeds genetically engineered by companies represent the majority of what’s planted in U.S. farmlands, particularly in grain crops. The foods that result from them are popularly referred to as GMOs.”

Source: Frequently asked question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

No, they are simply another process for improving seed varieties for several reasons including improving flavor and protecting plants.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

No till farming, especially in the Midwest, has been a common practice for decades, especially after the famous Dust Bowl when land-grant universities were tasked with studying how to preserve and improve the topsoil on farms. But one does have to remember during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s the perfect storm emerged with forces from Mother Nature that no one could have been able to prevent. The three main weather patterns that contributed to the Dust Bowl were: a severe and prolonged drought, high winds, and abnormally low precipitation across the Great Plains. You can find farms here in Arizona that do no-till or low-till. Farms today in Arizona are more low-till and make anywhere from 30 to 50% fewer mechanical passes in their fields because of improved practices. In some instances, depending on the farming and the area involved, no-till does not make sense. Like anything, it makes more practical sense in some areas over others. You apply the science where it makes sense.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

A variety of reasons can explain why farms may not be close to town. Often, development will push farms further out or simply selling the farm means that’s a location no longer in farm production. Additionally, farms often require a large number of acres, and the outlying areas of a community means it is the only location found to farm including land availability. But, more and more, if you look you can see some urban farming tucked away in quaint spaces within development. One of Arizona’s favorite examples is Agritopia.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

Like an earlier question about where all the farms are, dairies move further away from population centers to find enough room to manage a large dairy operation, at least here in Arizona. Too, families in development often complain about the odor if they’re not familiar with animal livestock.

Source: Frequently Asked Question by teachers, parents and students to the Arizona Farm Bureau Ag Education Team.

Arizona Farm Bureau and other non-governmental agriculture organizations would certainly work against anything like that if it were to occur. Our mission states that we exist to protect the farmer. On the issue of what’s happening in the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, we asked a global market professional. Here is what he said: Our question: In Europe, we’ve seen a lot of farmer demonstrations and protests. What’s your take on this and what about future impact? Rupert Claxton, Meat and Livestock Director for Gira based in Europe: European farmers are backed into a really tight corner, huge pressure from NGOs and governments to make progress on sustainability and animal welfare, human density, making building large scale farms difficult if not impossible, manure regulations that mandate a reduction in livestock numbers in some regions, rising labor costs (if you can find it), high feed costs, very high energy costs and at the end of the day farm scales that cannot provide a competitive income.

So, global agriculture has legitimate concerns with how their governments are dictating to them how to farm.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

Our farmers and ranchers are amazingly resilient. Remember the pandemic of 2020. We made it a point to check on our farmer and rancher members. Their common response: “We are continuing to farm and ranch.” Also, they would tell us they had a freezer full of meat and a generator if electricity went out.

But it is a question our leaders in farm and ranch country wrestle with along with organizations like the Arizona Farm Bureau. We build our mission around working toward sustainability in agriculture during good times and tough times.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

This question is probably one of the most common questions we field at Arizona Farm Bureau about Arizona agriculture. And we’re happy to answer it for you and our Arizona families.

Arizona agriculture has implemented several strategies to save water, reflecting both necessity due to the state’s arid climate and regulatory mandates.

The list follows.

Irrigation Efficiency:
1. Drip Irrigation: Where feasible and applicable, farmers in Arizona have adopted drip irrigation systems, which deliver water directly to the root zone of plants, minimizing evaporation and runoff. This technology can reduce water use by up to 50% in some instances.
2. Pivot Irrigation: Another technology gaining more acceptance that can reduce water use 20% to 30%.
3. Basin Irrigation with Laser leveling: While a modern-day form of flooding, the laser-leveling of the field to ensure even water distribution allows for as much as a 30% reduction in water use.
4. Lined Ditches: You may not think about it, but even our irrigation canals are more efficient than they used to be. Irrigation canals lined with cement reduce water loss to evaporation and seepage by significant amounts.
Best Management Practices (BMPs):
1. Best Management Practices (PMPs) led by Arizona’s farmers and codified by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) which include practices like laser-leveling fields to ensure even water distribution, lining canals to reduce seepage, and using gated pipe or surge irrigation to improve water application efficiency.
Crop Selection and Management:
1. When a healthy market support it, farmers continue to shift towards growing crops that are more water-efficient or have higher economic returns per unit of water used. Additionally, deficit irrigation strategies are employed where crops receive less water than required in a way that actually maximizes yields, optimizing water use without significantly affecting crop quality.
Technological Innovation:
1. Use of real-time soil moisture and weather monitoring technologies for precise irrigation scheduling. This helps in applying the right amount of water at the right time, avoiding over-irrigation.
2. Today’s farmers can be found monitoring all their water applications on smartphones and laptops, making strategic adjustments based on the data in real-time.
Water Reuse:
1. Implementing systems to capture and reuse tailwater and other runoff, ensuring that water not used by crops is recirculated or stored for later use. For example, Arizona dairy farms growing their own alfalfa for their cattle, will use the recycled water they applied in other parts of the dairy.
Conservation Tillage:
1. Practices like no-till or low-till farming reduce soil erosion and improve water retention in the soil, thus reducing the need for frequent irrigation.
Research and Development:
1. Arizona’s land-grant university, the University of Arizona, has been at the forefront of developing water-saving agricultural practices, including breeding crops that require less water and improving irrigation techniques. These efforts have contributed to agriculture’s share of water use in Arizona decreasing from as high as 90% down to about 72% of the state’s total water use over the decades, with significant improvements in how efficiently that water is utilized.

The farming and ranching industry continues to evolve and adopt new technologies that will allow them to grow more with less. Producers recognize that water and soil conservation will ensure a viable future for the next generation. In an ever-expanding global population with diminishing agricultural land, Arizona’s farmers continue to innovate to produce more with less, ensuring that Arizona’s nearly $31 billion agriculture industry thrives.

Source: Listener question to our weekly Talk to a Farmer/Rancher Friday on Instagram

During an economic crash, farmers primarily face issues like plummeting commodity prices due to reduced consumer demand, difficulty meeting loan repayments due to declining income, increased financial stress, potential farm closures, and a drop in farmland value, making it harder to access credit and invest in their operations.

Key points about farmer struggles during an economic crash (gathered this information from farm credit organizations and banks that loan to farmers):

Decreased demand for agricultural products: When consumers have less disposable income, they often buy fewer discretionary food items like specialty meats, fruits, and vegetables, directly impacting farmers who produce these goods.
Price volatility: Commodity prices can fluctuate significantly during an economic downturn, leading to unpredictable income for farmers.
Debt burdens: Farmers often carry significant debt for land, equipment, and operating costs, which becomes harder to manage when income falls sharply.
Credit constraints: Banks may become more cautious about lending to farmers during a recession, limiting their access to necessary capital.
Falling land values: When farm income decreases, the value of farmland can also decline, impacting farmers’ equity and ability to secure loans against their land.
Inventory build-up: In a declining market, farmers may struggle to sell their produce, leading to oversupply and further price drops.
Increased financial stress: The combination of falling income, rising debt, and uncertainty about the future can lead to significant psychological stress for farmers.